Plight of African Native Arouses Mission Appeal

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 23, 11 February 1937, Page 12

Plight of African Native Arouses Mission Appeal

" MABITZB'UBG, S. Af. — A plea for greater consideration of the native peoples was made at a recent conference of the Methodist Church in South Africa. , "Tlfe African natives," said the Bev. A. A. Wellington, president of the conference, "are poorer to-day than they have been for at least 50 years. Many of them live in a state of semi-starva-tion. So far as the reserves are concerned, the present inhabitants must find work outside or starve; this is true even 'of the Traaiskei." "Can the picture be painted in any but- drab colours? xCan no machinery be created that will enable us to distributd maize to starving human beings at the price we do to rich men's cattle?" the minister asked, continuing: "Canqot our economists make it possible for the man upon whose labour we so completely depend to purchaso his meal and his sugar at something approximate to the price we dump these commodities on foreign shores? "We can, if we like, build a better country on the basis of jfraternalism and co-operation. If only for a little while we could forget our nationalities and our relationships as employers and employed — white or eoloured— most of our baffling problems would solve themselves. Even if difnculties are rising like mountains, we know of no moratorium of missions. The work of the Church must continue." History Eepeated. Two clergymen, one highly educated and the other quite the opposite, were discussing the value of education. "I suppose," said. the Iatter, "that you have gone through college." "Yes, I have," modestly replied the minister. "Well," declared he of little edu!eation, "I am thankful that the Lord opened my mouth without an education. ' ' "Yes,". eoiirteously assented the ■ other. "A similar thing, we are told, | happened in Balaam's time." 8> & 3> 5> Foresight. I "Are there any questions you would like to ask about your new house?" inquired the architeet. "Just one," replied the man who intended to build. "Could you stick in an extra room some plaee, so when my trife takes the den for a sewing room, I'll have a plaee to call my own?" §> S> Experience, Appropos the recent reference to applieations for a situation, a reader rClates that a shipping firm received a lettcr from a youth applying for an office boy's job Stating: "I have been constructing and sailing model yachts for some years iiow, so that I have a little shipping experi-enee.-^Edinburgh Dispateh.